Tire-testing dynamometer



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Apri 15 1924.

T IRE TESTING DYNAMOME'IERl N. M M,...

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Patented-Apr.. i5, lge.,

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cani. r. SCOTT, or Yoimnns, NEW YORK, Assieivoaro ennnaeiilnimcrmc dormeur,

, A ccaroiae'rion Or New vonk. i Y

'rien-TESTING DYNAMOMETEB,

application fiieyd Aprii 14,

T0 all whom t may conceive: Be it known that I, CRL F. SCOTT, aeitizen of the United States, residing at Yonkers, in the county of VeStcliester, State of New Yorin. have invented certain new and useful Improvements in rlire-Testing Dycompressive loads simulating the stresses and reactions encountered in ice of the tire.

A further Object of the inventionisto provide an improved arrangement for testing the'eiciency and losses of automobile' tires. for testing the relative characteristics of different types of fabrics and materials used in the construction of tires, and for testing the life and endurance of tires at rated-loads and at overloads to determine the relative endurance of different tire cas ings.

i further object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement whereby the loadA on the tire being tested may be very nicely regulated. y' still further object of the invention. is to provide a system of electrical interlocking (.-onnectionsvfhereby the motorwhieh drives thettire and a generator which acts as a-load may be effectively and safely controlled. A y l These and other objects of the invention` as ivillbe eitherapparent to those skilled in the art or as Will be pointed out fully hereinafter, are attained in the' tire testing dynamometer and the control -thereforas illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In carrying the invention into effect in one form, I provide an arrangement Where. by a dynamo electric machine operating as a motor is connected to 'Op'eratea tire testing Wheel and a dynamo electric-machine operating as a generator isjarranged so as'. to be runv by power transmitted 'through the tire. In order to secure a'variation of the load on the tire. thedynamo electric machinesy are mounted oir relatively movable supports. and a tension devi-ce -is provided for the purpose of 'regulating the pressure betweenl the tire to be tested and the tracthe actual serv- 1923. serial no. esaisif -tion drum to which the generator 1is connected. vThe arrangement is preferably such that the tension device applies a pressure between the tire and fthe traction drum on a line connecting the shaft on`ivhich the' traction dru'nfrisl mounted, the shaft on which the tire testing Wheel is mounted and Athe peintv of Contact. between ythe tire and the -traction drum. By .the provision of a tension device for regulating the pressure between the tire and the' drum, adjustable pressure members are eliminated, 'and this is of advantage for thereason that adjustable pressure members are morelikely to be subjected to bending stresses and binding forces than a tension device. The arrangement is preferably such Athat the platform on which y the tire carrying Wheel and its motor is ymounted is .freely movable back and forth along a runway, and the arrangement is also preferably such that a floating type axle and bearing construction is provided for. the tire carrying Wheel, so that an extremely heavy pressure lmay be applied to the tire without necessitating a very heavily constructed shaft or bearing.- The interlockingconnections between the motor and the generator of the dynamometer are preferably such that an automatic circuit breaker in the circuit of the generator and a contactor inthe circuit of thevmotor are both automatically epenecl in response tO abnormal circuit conditions, thereby auto matically protecting. the equipment from over speed,.no voltage conditions, etc.

F or a better understanding of the invention','re ference is had to the accompanying drawings 'wherein Fig. l is ya perspective' view of a tire testing dynain'ometer in ac- 'cordance' with the invention. -Figf 2 is a .detail slioWingfthe-iioating type axle construction preferred Aforthe mounting of. the

"tire carrying Wheel and the shaft of the dynamo electric machinefyvliich operates as a m'otorto drive the tire to be tested. F ig. 3 is a detail showing the ball bearing construction Of the rollers for the support which carries'the .tire to be tested and the dynamo electric machine provided for the `purposeof driving the tire carrying Wheel. lFig. et is aA diagrammatic representation of ici Mil

a inodiliedarrangement for applying pressure between the tire ycarrying Wheel and the traction drum of the dynaiiiometer and Fig@ isa very simplified diagram of cong y Montese nections of the electrical control for the dynamo electric machines of the dynamometer. v

`Referring to the drawings, the-tire 10 .tof-f be tested is arranged to be mounted on the` tire carrying wheel 11 which is connected so as to bedriven by the dynamo electric machine 12 which operates as a motor to rotate the tire in contact with the traction drum 13. The traction drum 13 is mounted on the' shaft of the dynamo electric machine 14 which will operate as a generatorlto provide a load for the tire to be tested. In'order to provide for a relative movement between the tire carrying wheel and the traction drum, so as to vary and otherwise regulate the load on the tire to be tested,- I have arranged the tire carrying wheel andthe motor 12 on a movable platform or support 15. Thev traction drum 13 andthe dynamo electric machine 14 are mounted on a support `16 which may be stationary. The platform 15 is mounted so as to be freely movable' back and forth along the runway 17, and to this end the Aplatform is provided withlfour roller bearing supporting wheels, of which the j wheels18 and 19 are illustrated in the drawing. The platform 15 is arranged to be moved back and forth along the runway 17 by means of the tension device 20.' This 'tension device comprises astationary support 21which carries at its upper end a sheave 22, over which the cable 23`is adapted to be passed,v one end 'of the cable being l secured inany suitable manner to the weigh-v ing device or beam scale 24. The other end of the cable is secured to an adjustable block or nut 25 mounted on an adjusting screw 246,' The adjusting screw 26 is carried by a v'supporting member 27 mounted upon the` movable support 15. The adjusting handle 28 connected to the adjusting screw- 26 is' provided for causing the nut' 25 to fleet along the adjusting screw 26 so as to thereby regu= late the pressure between thev tire to betest'- ed and the traction drum 13.

n It will be observedthat theJ arrangement isk such that the pressure exerted by .the l tension device is applied along the line con A-necting the centers of the shafts on which dthe'traction drumf13 and the tire carrying" wheel 11 are mountedA and the point of conltact between the tire 10 vand the traction drum. This is a particularly desirable feature of`my invention for the reason that the pressure is applied along this line'so as tov eliminate the warpingstrains on the sup ortk 15 and the shaft of the motor 12'as wel as to eliminate undue strains onl the shaft-car rying the traction drum 13. It will alsovbe observed that by .reason of the'provision-of a tension device for varying the ycontact pressure between the tire and traction drum, ending and warping strains are eliminated in thedevice which regulates the pressure. 0I The dynamo electric machine 12 is preferably arrangedso that its armature 29 is mounted on the shaft which carries the tire carrying wheel -and the field frame 30 is also mountedgsoas to; be capable of rotation.

`"The torque-betweenX the armature of the In0- 70 tor and the)` field-is measured by means of a suitable beam scale 31 which has a connec' tion with the field-frame 30 at32. The dynamo electric machine 14-is intended to nor- 4ma'lly operate Aas Va generator and is similarly 75 constructed. The scale'jof weighing device 33 is provided for measuring the torque between the armature of this machine and the field. It will be observed that. since the scale 31 measures the torque of the motor 80 element of the dynamometer and the scale 33 measures the torque 'of the loading `ele, ment of the dynamometer, the difference between these two torques7 minus known losses, represents t-he efficiency of the tire in transmitting power. The tire carrying wheel 11 is shownin Fig. 1 as of the wire wheel type, but it need not necessarily .be ofthis construction and in Fig. 2 l have indicated the wheel 11 as of 90 another type. yThis wheel is mounted on the shaft 34 of the armature 29 vof the electric motor 12. A full ioating type of vaxle construction ispneferably provided as indicated in Fig. 2. The shaft 34 is mounted 95 in roller bearings 35 which are carried by the eld frame 3() of the motor 12. The shaft'34 projects through a rigid tube 36 and connects directly with the wheel 1l.

Roller bearings 37 are supported by the tube 100 36 so that the load carried byV the tire to be tested is carried by the rigid tube 36 andV i the bearing support 38' so as to thereby relieve the shaft 34 of any undue strains.

vThe field frame 30 is alsomounted in roller 105 bearings39 in the pedestal 38 so that this field frame is rotatable with respect tothe armaturej29. By' referring to Fig. 3 it will be observed that theplatformv or support 15 is carried bythe wheels 18 and these wheels 110 are/ provided with roller bearings 40 so vas to minimize the friction and permit the platform 15 to be easily moved back and forth l along the. rails 17.

`As thus "constructed and arranged, the

operation of this part of my invention is as follows -k Assume that the motor 12 1s operating so .as to drive the tire carrying wheel and the tire to be testedl and that the adjusting handle 23 ofthe tension device is adjusted so as to bring the tire into engagement with `the traction drum 13. so as to thereby operate the dynamo electric machine 14 as a generi ator'. Assume also that the generator 14 is7125- connected in such a manner as to serve asa loading devicefor the tire. The adjustinghandle 28 will be turned so as to cause the nut 25 to- Heet along the adjusting screw 26 in the direction of the adjusting wheel 18o i annonce -be such as to correspond to the load carried .ordinarily by the tire being tested or may be any other value Withinthe limits of the device for the purpose Aof testing the tire at various loads. It will also be observed that j the load may be very easily regulated by varying the adjusting handle 28 and that the pressure set up by the adjusting device is along'the line connecting the point of contact-between the tire and the traction drum and the centers othe'shatts connecting the drum vand the tire carrying Wheel. The torque ofthe motor 12'Will be indicated on the beam scale 31 and the torque transmitted through the tire and traction drum will be indicated on the beam scale 33. A measure of the efliciency of the tirein transmitting had. i l

ln Fig. 4 l have shownin a very simplivarious loads at various speeds may thus be fied diagram an alternative'form of a ten` sion device for applyingv pressure between ,the tire carrying Wheel 10 and the traction fra-me 13. ln this arrangement a turn buckle connection 4,1.is used between the scaleor load indication device 24 vand the post 27', mounted on the platform 15. Tlfe turn buckle serves as the connecting medium between the one end of the lever 42 mounted on the pedestal 43,` and the other end of the turn buckle is connected by suitablelever mechanism with the load indicating device 24'; The other end of lever 42 is connected with `a link 44 which applies a pressure to the post 27 along a line connecting the centers ot' the shafts carryingpthe traction drum and the tire carrying wheel, and the point of Contact between the tire to be tested and vthe traction drum. It Will be seen that by the provision of the turn buckle adjusting device, a tension regulating device serves to vary the pressure between the tire and the traction drum. As before explained. this tension device has the advantage that adjustable pressure members are eliminated which are necessarily more likely to be subjected to bending strains and binding forces than a pressure device.

The regulation of the speed and the torque transmitted aud absorbed by the two elements of the dynamometer is accomplished b v the adjustment' of the field and armature currents of the tivo dynamo electric ma- .c-hines.v In 1the preferred form of my inveny tion, provision is made whereby a' separate adjustment. of the armature'and the field circuit resistance of each machine is possible,

and the arrangement vis further such that the direction of rotation of each machine is' easily reversible by reversing the direction of the field current ofv the respective machines..

motor circuit serves as ano-voltage release4 i for the motor so as to protect the equipment from excessive speeds, and a no-voltage rcleasc on the generator circuit -breaker is interlocked Withthe holding coil of the motor line contactor so as to disconnect the dynamo yelectric machine from a source of supply inl response to' abnormal Circuit conditions.

By reference to Fig. 5 1t will be observed lthat the motor 12 is' indicated as of the directcurrent type having an armature 29 anda shunt field 30, and the generator is also' indicated as otl the direct current type having an armature 45 and a shunt field 46. The automatic overload release circuit breaker 47 is provided for connecting the motor armature to the source of supply 48 when the line contactor 49 is closed. The field reversing switch 50 is provided for connecting the motor field 30 to the source of supply in such a manner as to ciuse the motor to operate in .either the frward'or reverse direction. T he regulating rheostats 51 are provided for varying the excitation of the motor .field 3() and the arrangement is such that the contact element of the rheostat 52 must be in such a position that all oit the resistance ot this rheostat isin'cluded in the motor armature circuit before4 the push button 53 is effective to close the line'contactor 49, thereby insuri ing that the motor Will not be connected to the source of supply until the motor armature has sufficient resistance included in its circuit. The push button 54 is provided for deenergizing the line contacter' 49 and causing the motor armature to be disconnected from the supply circuit thereby stopping the dynamometer.

The automatic circuit breaker 55 is included in the armature circuit of the generator and the holding coil 56 ofthis cir cuit breaker is in'cluded in a circuit con'- trolled by the auxiliary switchV mechanism of the motor line contacter 49, so that in case the motor line contactor is opened either automatically or under manual control, the generator circuit breaker will also be opened. The generator circuit breaker is also provided With an overload coil 57 soV that the breaker Will be automaticallyl released in case of an overload onthe generator circuit. The adjustable resistor 58 and the resistor 59 are provided for the purpose lltl . right hand set circuit including the resistors 58 and vcircuit of these -gagement with its left hand set of contacts,

if so thatthe potential or the generator may and vthe generator the generator. The

econtrolled by means of 'a doubleJ pole double throw disconnecting switch 6() which is so arranged that when thrown to make engagement with its of contacts, the generator o erates as a dynamic brake through the local 59; but when the switch is thrown so as to make eno a regulable load for resistors is thegenerator is connected'to'the source o supply 48 so as to thereby' --return power to the supply circuit. When this latter conf nection. is made, the total power used by the dynamometer is merely that which is represented by the losses between the motor elements of the dynaf mometer. The current of the generator field circuit is regulated by means of the variable rheostats 61 and the generator ield is controlled' by the field reversing switch 62 which is provided for the purpose ofinsuri ing that the generated potential is in the 60, the generator proper `direction to return energy to the supplyjcirc'uit 48. y v l As thus constructed" and arranged, and with .the parts in their respective positions the motor disconnecting switch 63, the motor field reversing Switch 50, the generator disconnecting switch field `reversing switch 62. will all be closed. In order to start the motor, the movable contact mechanism of the motor armature circuit rheostat 52 will be moved clockwise so as to make engagement The ` motor circuit breaker 47 will iirst be closed through a circuit ductor through the circuit breaker 47, contacts of the .generator may supply by closing vand the motor may then be started by pressing the starting push button 53, thereby energizing the line contactor 49'to close and connect the motor to the source of supply from the lower supply conn line contactor 49, right hand switch blade of the disconnecting switch 63, motor armature, regulating rheostat' 52 to the upper supply contactor. The line conta'ctor ,49 will be maintained closed through a circuit which includes the auxiliary switch 66 of this line contactor, the stop push butf ton 54, and the contact 67 of the i'ield reversing switch 50. 'Ihe starting push button 53.' may thus be releasedandthe line contactor will be automatically maintained closed. The` be connected to the source of the circuit .breaker and this circuit breaker will vbe maintained.' closed by reason of the fact 'that the novoltage release coil -56 is energizedthrough a circuit which includes the upper auxiliary. switch 68 of the motor line contactor 49 and the auxiliary contact 67 of the motor iield reversing switch A50. It is assumed that the switch 60 has been closed so as to connect lage should ail, the

4conditions may 59 and that the switch 62 has been closed so as to connect the generator ield to the supply circuit or the proper polarity of the generator. The motor armature rheostat 52 may now be varied so yas to regulate the cur- 'lol rent takenby the motor armature, and the field .rheostats 51 may also be adjusted so as to regulate the speed 'of the motor. `The generator .iield rheostat 6 1l may be adjusted correspond in polarity and in value to the potential oi the supply circuit 48. When thepotenti-al and-polarity of the generator. are properly adjusted, the disconnecting switch 60 may be thrown to make engagement with the left hand contacts so as to Acause the generator to return energy vto the supply circuit.

In case the motor field reversing switch 50 is moved while the equipment is operating, the line contactor 49 will., be automatically de-energized and the holding coil 56 of the circuit .breaker 55 will be automatically de-energized so'that the circuit breaker 55 will :automatically open. Protection is thus afforded against over speed conditions due to careless manipulation bythe operator. servedthat in case the supply'cir-cuit voltline contactor 49 will will automatically e-' the generator circuit breaker 55 so that the equipment must' be again started afterthe occurrence of this abnormal circuit condition.

It will also be observed that the rheost'at open, and in-opening fectlthe opening o It will also be obthe resistance 1n the lmotor. armature cir- 4 cuit before the equipment can be again started. By observing the power input of the motor and the power generator, a measure of the etiiciency of the tire at various speeds'and loadconditios may be had. It will also be observed that the load, the speedand the various other be adjusted so as to simulate the actual conditionsl encountered by the tire in actual service.

In accordance-with the provisionsof theu patent statutes I have described the "principle of operation of my invention together with the apparatus which I nowconsider to represent the best enibodime'nt thereof, but I desire to vhave it understoodthat the apparatus shown is only illustrative and that the invention may be carried out by other` means.

delivered by thev i What I claimas new and desire to secure a' wheel for carryby one of said dynamo electric machines, a

of the said supports for applying pressure between the said tire and drum.

2. A tire testing dynamometer comprising two relatively movablesupports each having a d ynaino electric machine with a shaft mounted thereon, a tire carrying wheel mounted on one of said supports and connected to be operated by the shaft of one of said dynamo electric machines, a drumniounted on the other of said supports and connected to operate the shaft of the other of said dynamo electric machines in accordance with the power transmitted through the tire being tested, and means for applying pressure to one of said supports on a line connecting the centers of the said shafts and the point of contact between the tire to be tested and the said drinn.

3. A tire testing dynamoineter comprising two relatively movable supports each having a dynamo electric machine mounted thereon, a tire carrying wheel mounted on one of said supports and connected to be operated by one of the said dynamo electric machines, a drum mounted on the other of said supports and connected to operate the other of said dynamo electric machines in accordance with the power transmit-ted through the tire being tested, and a tension device connected with one of said supports and located on a line connecting thecenters of the shafts which carry the'said drum'and wheel and the point of contact between the tire to-be tested and-the drum for varying the contact pressure between the tire andv the drum.

4. A tire testing dynamometer comprising Y two relatively movable supports each having connected to operate theiotlierV of said' a dynamo electric machine withl a shaft mounted thereon, a tire carrying wheel mounted on one of said supports and connected to -be operated bythe shaft of one of said dynamo electric machines, a drum mounted on the other of said supports and dynamo electric machines inv accordance withrthe power transmitted through the tire being tested, and a variable tension Jdevice cooperating with one of said supports for movingthe same itc apply pressure along a line connecting the centers of said shafts and the point of contact between the point of the tire to be tested and the said drum. 5. A tire testing dynamometer comprising two relatively movable supports each hav-v ing a dynamo electric machine mounted thereon, each of said machines having a rotatable stat/or element and a rotor element with a shaft, a torque measuring device connected with each of said stator element-s, floating type bearings for the shafts of said dynamo electric machines, a tire carrying wheel on the shaft ofone of said dynamo electric machines and a. traction drum on the shaft of the other of said dynamo electric machines, and means for applying pressure along a line connecting the centers of said shafts and the point of contact between the tire to be tested and the said drum. y

6. A tire testing dynamometer comprising two relatively` movablesupports each having a dyiiaii'io electric machine with a shaft mounted thereon, a tire carrying wheel mounted on one of said supports and connected to be operated by the shaft of one of said dynamo electric machines, a drum mounted on the other of said supports and connected to operate the shaftofthe other of said dynamo elctric machines in acco-rdance with the' power transmitted through the tire being tested, av pedestal mounted on one of said supports, a wheel carried by a stationary pedestal and a c ble passing over the said wheel, a measiiring device connected to one end of`said cable, anda device cooperating with said pedestal and connected to the other end of said cable for applying pressure along the line connecting the centers of the saidr shafts and the point of contact between the tirel to be tested and the drum.

7, A tire testing dynamometer comprising two relatively movable supports, each of said supports having a dynamo electric ma; chine mounted thereon, a wheel for carrying a tire to be tested mounted on one of said 'supports and connected to be rotated by one of said dynamo electric machines operating as a motor, adrum mounted on the other df said supports and connected to rotate the other dynamo electric machine as a generator in accordance with the rotation of the tire to be tested, an automatic circuit breaker in the circuit of said genera-tor, a line contactor in the circuit of said to abnormal circuit conditions.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 12th day ot April, 1923.

, CARL F. SCOTT. 

